Station-indicator



No. 6I8,298. Patented Jan. 24, |899. R. SPERBER.

STATION INDICATOR.

(Application led Nov. 13, 1896.) (No Model.) 3.She'ets-Sheet.|.

@fi/ZEW? nu. M8298. Patented 1an. 24, |399.

- R. SPERBER.

STATIUN INDICATOR.

(Application led Nov. 13. 1896.) (No model.) 3 sheets-sheet 2.

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Patented Ian. 24, |899.

No. 6I8,298.

R. SPERBER.

STATION INDICATOR.

(Application IIcd Nov. 13, 1896.)

3 Sheeis--Sheet 3.

No Model) Wim/ESSES IINTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLF SPERBER, OF SEATTLE, `IVASHINGTON.

STATION-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,298, dated January 24, 1899.

Application tiled NOVember 13, 1896. Serial No. 612,007. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, t may concern.-

Beit known that I, RUDOLF SPERBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Tashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Station-Indicators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in station-indicators of that class designed for the purpose of indicating upon or within cars the streets or stations as they are approached.

It has for its objects, among others, to provide a simple and cheap arrangement of devices whereby the streets or stations will be automatically indicated, the mechanism therefor being connected with and actuated by connection from the car-axle. I provide means for reversing the direction of movement of the belts at the end of the route. I provide a bell that is sounded at each change of street or station to call the attention of the passengers to such change.

I aim at improvements in the details of construction whereby the device as a whole is rendered more complete and positive in its action, accurate, not liable to get out of order, and the parts so assembled that they are not liable to become inoperative from any cause.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claims.

The invention in this instance resides in the peculiar combinations and the construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described,shown in the drawings,and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in Which- Figure lisa front elevation of my improved station-indicator. Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation with the front removed,showing the interior mechanism. Fig. Lis a vertical cross-section. Fig' is a similar view looking in the opposite direction. Fig.

6 is a detail in elevation of the bell-actuating mechanism. Fig. 7 is a top plan thereof.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the inclosing case or cabinet of any required size and material and having a door A at the front, which is hinged, as shown at @,so that the inclosed mechanism is protected, but can be gotten at when desired. This door is provided with the two transparent panels A2, preferably of different widths, although this is not essential. Behind these panels the canvas is caused to pass, in this instance shown as having thereon the name of the street and any other information as may be desired, as seen at a', and adjacent thereto some advertisement, as indicated at a2, both being exhibited at the same time, the one through one panel and the other through the other. l

B is a shaft suitably mounted in the side walls of the case and extended parallel with the panels, one end being extended and having fast thereon the sprocket-wheel B', over which passes the sprocket-chain B2, which is designed to pass over another sprocket-wheel on the car-axle (not shown) and by which the shaft B is kept in motion while the car is moving. l This wheel and chain are inclosed in a housing b, as shown, and gearing lor other means may be employed between the shaft B and the car-axle for transmitting the motion from the latter to the former.

C is a sleeve sleeved upon the shaft B near one end and having fast thereon upon the two oppositely-disposed bevel-pinions C and C2, the sleeve being splined to the shaft, so as to revolve With it, but capable of movement endwise thereon. These pinions are designed to mesh with a bevel-pinion O5, carried by a shaft C4 at right angles to the shaft B and mounted in a bracket c, secured to theinner wall of the case, as shown in Fig. 3. This sleeve is designed to be moved in onel direction or the other to cause the desired bevelpin-ion O or O2 to be thrown into mesh with the bevel-pinion C3 according to the direction of movement to be given to said pinion and consequently to the canvas carrying the names of the streets, dac. It is moved by the lever O5, with which the sleeve is connected IOD vX is .the canvas.

in any suitable manner, as by an ordinary sleeve-clutch that will permit of revolution of the sleeve and shaft without affecting the lever. This lever is pivoted, as at c', and has a handle c2, which works through a slot in the bottom wall of the case, the pivot being supported in the arm or upright c2 in the case, as shown in Fig. 3. C6 is a iiat spring secured at one end to the side of this lever and its free end bearing against the wall of the slot c4, through which the handle portion Works, as seen in Fig. 5, to hold the lever in its adjusted positions. It will be readily seen that movement of this lever on its pivot will move the sleeve on the shaft B and thus throw one or the other of the bevel-pinions on the sleeve into engagement with the bevel-pinion C3, at the same time raising or lowering the frame containing the spindles, so that the canvas is at the same time reversed in its motion.

On the shaft C4 is a worm D, that works in conjunction with a worm-gear D 0n the shaft (l, mounted in a bracket or support CZ', supported from the bracket c, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and arranged at right angles to the shaft B and also at a right angle to the shaft C4. This shaft d carries a gear-wheel D2, that meshes with the gear-wheel D3 on the shaft d2, parallel with the shaft d, and on this same shaft d2 is a small pinion cl2, that is designed to engage the teeth of the large wheel E, which is provided with pins or projections e and which is suitably mounted on a stub-shaft e on the inner wall of the case, as shown, and these pins may be so spaced on the wheel that the distances between adjacent pins shall be proportioned to the distance between the stations or streets. The pinion cl2 may be made to mesh with the teeth at the periphery of the large wheel'or to operate in conjunction with the pins or projections thereon. This wheel may be made to revolve once or less in the length of the route.

F is a frame movably mounted within the case near the top and bottom of the indicator, in which are mounted the shafts or spindles F2 and F', and beyond these are the smaller spindles or rollers f f as seen best in Figs. 4 and 5.

It is rolled upon these spindles and rollers, as shown, having one end fast to each of the spindles F2 F and then passed over the rollers f f', being designed to be rolled upon one ofthe spindles as it is unrolled from the other. It is of suicient length to contain the names ofi all stations or streets along the route, and, as shown, adjacent to each street or station maybe some advertisement. The stations and other matter can be affixed lto the canvas in any suitable way. The canvas is designed to move between the guide-rollers f2, suitably mounted opposite the panel in the front of the case, as shown best in Fig. 5, and on the edge of the canvas are the projections f3, preferably of the form shown in Fig. 5 and of rubber or hard wood, suitably affixed thereto, and

are for the purpose of throwing out of gear the gear-wheels that feed the canvas, so that the latter will stop as soon as the projection passes the guide-rollers.

G is a bar or arm hinged, as shown at g, and provided with the elongated slot g', in which works the axis h of the gear-wheel G', as seen best in Fig. 5, and the hub of this gearwheel has an annular groove receiving the opposite walls of the slot, so that while the wheel may revolve it may be moved endwise of its shaft by the movement of the arm or bar. The inner face of this gear-wheel is covered with hard rubber, as seen at g2, and the gearwheel II on the same shaft as and concentric withthe wheel G is provided upon its adjacent face with a plurality of pins or projections g3, as seen best in Fig. 3, and when the wheel G is driven back the wheel II is forced thereagainst with sufficient force to cause them to turn in unison. Itis to be understood that the wheel G' is movable on its shaft. The gear-wheel H is located between the gearwheels I I on the end of the spindles F' F2, as shown, and it is the engagement of this wheel with either the one or the other of the wheels I I that causes the canvas to be`fed The movable frame is moved to throw either the wheel I or the wheel I into operative relation with the gear-wheel II, according to the direction of movement of the canvas desired, and by moving the same the proper distance the said wheel may be thrown out of operative relation with both of said wheels. On the shaft B is a cog-wheel H2, made broad, as shown in Fig. 3, to allow the gear-wheel G to slide upon it.

J is a camor eccentric lever mounted at the bottom of the case, as shown, and having a handle. It is designed to act upon the bottom of the movable frame to raise it independently of the lever C5. The frame is pressed downward by means of the lsprings AJ' at the top of the case and bearing upon the top of the frame, as shown in Fig. 3. The frame is guided in its movements by the blocks j, arranged at the corners of the case, as seen best in Fig. 3.

K are springs secured to the movable frame and bearing upon the gear-wheels I I of the spindles for the purpose of preventing unsteady motion in the spindles.

L is a gong or bell forming an annunciating device and which is mounted on top of the casing and designed to be rung at each change of streets or stations. This is accomplished in the following manner: The wheel E is mounted to revolve once or less in the length of the route. At the top of the case or cabinet is a cantaliver M, supported by a central pin m from the bracket fm', fastened to the top of the casing, as seen best in Fig. 6. This lever has two pins M and M2 projecting laterally therefrom and leaving the free end slightly turned up to prevent the lever-arm N from slipping off, the said lever-arm being IIO pivoted at ln in the corner of the case and is kept down on the pins M M2 by means of a springll. (Shownbestin Fig. G.) Whenthe large wheel E turns, the pins e willcatch the tip of the cantaliver M and thus raise the arm of the lever N. As soon as the tip clears the pin c the spring N will bring the lever-arm into its original position with a quick blow. This will ring the gong on top of the cabinet and at the other arm of the lever will drive the lever which throws the spindles into gear forward, so that the spindles are at once put into motion. The free end of the horizontal arm of the lever N is connected by link or other means N2 with the arm n2, that actuates the bell-hammer, as seen best in Fig. 6.

The direction of the movement of the canvas is reversed by actuatingthe lever C5, which raises the entire movable frame that carries the spindles and throwing out the one gear-wheel and bringing the other into operative relation with the gear-wheel H and thus changing the direction of movement of the canvas, it being understood that the gearwheel H' is in engagement with but one of the gear-wheels I l at the same time.

The canvas is prevented from continuous movement by the bevel-pinions and the worm and worm-gear above described, and the motion is to be regulated to suit the route by changing the size of the driving-chain cogwheel on the shaft B.

In Figs. G and 7 is shown the mechanism for putting in motion and stopping the canvas. When the lever N is raised by the pins M M2, the bar O, mounted to slide through an opening o in the wall of the case and pivotally connected with the lower end of the said lever, as at o', is drawn back through the opening of the bar or arm G, through which it loosely passes, as seen best in Fig. 6, until the striking piece or wedge O, mounted on said bar O, can drop clear of the opening. In this new position of the bar O the small roller 02, mounted in the arm o3 on the inner wall of the case, will rest upon the higher surface of the top of the bar O, pressing it down, so that the bar O shall just clear the lower edge of the opening in the bar G. lVhen the lever N is released by the pins e, it is driven down by the spring N', thus thrust ing the bar O through the openingin the bar G, and the piece O will strike the bar G, driving it toward the wall of the cabinet or case about one-eighth of an inch, more or less. The notch oL1 in the top of the bar O is so cut that at the instant the bar G has been moved the above distance the roller o2 will begin to slip down the incline of the cut or notch and the bar O will be lifted up by the spring P, connecting thev same with the lever N, so that the piece O will pass through the opening of the bar G and leave it free from these parts. By the movement of the bar G the gear-wheel G' is thrown back and forth. The bar G is held in place by a small catch Q, attached to the spring-bar which holds the roller which guides the canvas and which is located at the front near the space between the two glass panels.

R is a spring secured to the inner wall of the case, as seen best in Fig. 7, and bearing with its free end against the bar G, as shown, so as to throw the gear-wheels G and Il out of gear as soon as the bar G is released at the point on the spring-arm X, which is a catch, and this release is effected by the projections on the edge of the canvas, as shown best in Fig. 7, wherein one of the guide-rollers is shown as carried by a spring-arm X and the other roller by a rigid arm or support. lVhen this projection comes between the rollers, it separates them and forces the spring-arm X away, sothat the end of the bar G is released from the catch or lug on the spring-arm and the spindles are at once stopped revolving. The projection will remain just below or above the rollers until the lever N has again been released by one of the pins e on thelarge wheel, when the wheels G' and H will be again thrown into gear and the canvas will move forward until again stopped by the release of the bar G by the next projection on the edge of the canvas.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

That is claimed as new is- 1. An apparatus substantially as described comprising the casing, the frame movable therein, the indicator, devices whereby the indicator may be operated in both directions, the lever for shifting said frame in the casing and means whereby said lever may, simultaneously with such shifting of the frame, shift the device for driving the indicator, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the rollers between which the canvas operates, of the canvas having projections at one edge, and gear-wheels permitted to be disengaged by said projections, substantially as and for the purpose speciiied. Y 3. The combination with the canvas and its moving devices, of gear-wheels permitted to be disengaged by the movement of the canvas and means for automatically stopping the movement of the canvas at predetermined periods, as set forth.

4. The combination of the canvas having projections at its edge, the rollers between which such edge operates, one of such rollers having a movable support, and a gear-wheel coacting with such movable support substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the canvas and the moving means therefor, of the spring-arm carrying one of two rollers between which said canvas passes, the movable gear-wheel and the bar carrying the same having one end arranged to be engaged by said spring-arm, substantially as speciiied.

6. The combination with the springarm and a roller carried thereby of the pivoted bar IOO IIO

having one end engaged and adapted to be released by said arm, the spring acting on the other end of said bar the gear-wheel having a groove engaged in a slot in said bar, the drive mechanism meshed with said gearwheel, the canvas and intermediate devices between the said gear-wheel and the canvas, as set forth.

7. The combination with the canvas and the means for moving the same, of means adapted to be engaged by projections on the canvas for automatically stopping the means for moving the canvas and devices for sounding an alarm, as set forth;

S. Thevcombination with the canvas and the devices for moving the same, projections on` the edge of the canvas and gear-wheels permitted to be disengaged thereby, of an alarm and intermediate pivotal connections as described whereby the alarm is sounded at each change of a street or station, as set forth.

9. The combination with the large wheel with pins, of the cantaliverprovided with pins projecting laterally therefrom the spring acting on said lever, the alarm mechanism devices whereby the cantaliver operates the annunciator and means for turning the large wheel, substantially as specified.

10. rlhe combination with the large wheel provided with pins, of the cantaliver, provided with pins the elbow-lever pivoted at its elbow with one arm arranged in the path of the pins on the cantaliver, alarm mechanism and connections between the alarm mechanism and lthe elbow-lever and means for turning the large wheel, as set forth.

11. The combination with the cantaliver and the elbow-lever, of the bar pivoted at the lower end of said elbow-lever and a bar arranged for operation by and having a slot through which said bar passes, the indicating device, the operating mechanism and means whereby the movements of the slotted bar adjust the indicating devices into and out of gear with the operating mechanism, as set forth.

12. The combination with the elbow-lever and the bar pivoted thereto and having a notch, of the bar at right angles thereto and having a slot through which it passes, the roller adapted to bear upon said notch, the indicating devices, the operating mechanism and means whereby the movements of the slotted bar throw the indicating devices into gear with the operating mechanism, as set forth.

13. rllhe combination with the elbow-lever and the bar pivoted thereon and having a notch, of the pivoted bar having a slot, the roller acting upon the said notch, and the pivoted piece on the first-mentioned lever,

the indicating devices, the operating mechanism and means whereby the movements of the slotted bar throw the indicating devices the lever, the indicating devices, the operating mechanism and means whereby the movements of the slotted bar throw the indicating devices into gear with the operating mechanism, substantially as shown and described.

15. An apparatus substantially as described comprising the casing the framing movable therein, the indicator, the operating devices therefor including shifting-gears for reversing the movement of the indicator and the lever having an arm for shifting said gears and an arm for moving the frame in the casing substantially as set forth.

1G. The combination with the case,the movable frame, the shifting-lever, of the lever for moving the frame, independent of said lever the sleeve on the main shaft carrying bevel-pinions and a bevel-pinion and worm mechanism all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. In an apparatus substantially as described, the combination of the alarm, the operating mechanism therefor, the indicator proper, the operating mechanism for such indicator and a connection between the operating mechanism for the alarm and theoperating mechanism for the indicator proper, whereby the action of the former will throw the latter into gear with said indicator proper, as set forth. Y

18. An apparatus substantially as described comprising the casing the drive-shaft journaled therein, the frame movable in said casing and carrying the indicator, the gears connected with said indicator and movable alternately into gear with the drive-shaft as the frame is moved in the casing, the alarm mechanism, shiftable devices whereby the driveshaft may operate the alarm mechanism when turned in reverse directions, and the handoperated devices whereby to operate the said shiftable devices and to move the frame i th`e casing substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RUDOLF SPERBER.

Vitnesses:

J. F; PIKE, T. JosENHANs.

IOO

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